TAMU GEOG 203 EXAM 3

In terms of the global hydrologic cycle, land areas dominate both evaporation/evapotranspiration and precipitation. T/F

FALSE

Which of the following atmospheric moisture balance statements is correct?

a) evaporation is greater over land than over oceans

b) none of these statements is correct

c) over land, precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration

d) over the oceans, precipitation is greater than evaporation

over land, precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration

Potential evapotranspiration is a function of how much moisture actually evapotranspires, whereas actual evapotranspiration is a function of atmospheric energy. T/F

FALSE

If precipitation and soil moisture are not enough to meet the demand from potential evapotranspiration, which of the following situations will likely exist?

a) surplus

b) runoff

c) soil moisture utilization

d) a deficit

e) soil moisture recharge

A deficit

In terms of the surface water budget, __________ is the major input and __________ is the major expenditure.

a) insolation; radiative cooling

b) outgassing; dissociation

c) actual evapotranspiration; precipitation

d) runoff; precipitation

e) precipitation; actual evapotranspiration

precipitation; actual evapotranspiration

Moisture in excess of field capacity can become

a) gravitational water

b) hygroscopic water

c) wilting point water

d) hygroscopic and wilting point water

e) ranch water

gravitational water

Which of the following lists of drought types is in the correct order of increasing severity (weakest to strongest)?

a) hydrological, meteorological, agricultural, socioeconomic

b) meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, socioeconomic

c) agricultural, meteorological, socioeconomic, hydrological

d) socioeconomic, hydrological, meteorological, agricultural

e) hydrological, socioeconomic, agricultural, meteorological

meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, socioeconomic

Weather is characterized in terms of short-term temperature, pressure, precipitation, etc. conditions, while climate refers to the same variables, but over long-term climate "normals." T/F

TRUE

Which of the following is not a climate component used for climatic classification?

a) density

b) insolation/latitude

c) precipitation

d) air masses

e) temperature

density

Equatorial regions are dry because of convergence from the trade winds, convection, and ample moisture availability, while subtropical regions are wet due to high pressure and sinking air from the Hadley cells. T/F

FALSE

A genetic climate classification is based on actual data, while an empirical climate classification uses the underlying forcing factors that affect a region. T/F

FALSE

Tropical Rainforest

uniform, high rainfall amounts

Tropical Monsoon

brief dry season of at LEAST 1mo

Tropical Savanna

distinct wet and dry season of equal length

In which of the climate regions is College Station located?

a) Mesothermal

b) Tropical

c) Desert

d) Microthermal

e) Polar

Mesothermal

Mesothermal climates experience true seasonality, but winter temperatures remain mild. T/F

TRUE

Which of the following is not true regarding Polar and Highland climates?

a) They experience no true summer.

b) Permafrost is found in some regions.

c) They are extremely dry.

d) They are too cold for trees.

e) They are not found in the Southern Hemisphere.

They are not found in the Southern Hemisphere.

Which of the following factors does not cause Desert (arid and semiarid) climates?

a) Subpolar lows

b) Rainshadow effects

c) Cold ocean currents

d) Great distance to water

e) All of these factors are causes

Subpolar lows

What's the general sequence of climate regions, going from the equator to the North Pole?

a) Tropical, Arid, Microthermal, Mesothermal, Polar

b) Tropical, Mesothermal, Arid, Microthermal, Polar

c) Tropical, Arid, Mesothermal, Microthermal, Polar

d) Tropical, Mesothermal, Microthermal, Arid, Polar

Tropical, Arid, Mesothermal, Microthermal, Polar

As a consequence of climate change, precipitation has uniformly increased around the world. T/F

FALSE

All of the following are natural mechanisms of climate change, except which one?

a) atmosphere/ocean variability

b) land cover/land use change

c) changes in earth-sun relationships

d) volcanic activity

e) movement of continents

land cover/land use change

Despite what we learned earlier in the semester, which of the following is not actually constant on geologic timescales (~10,000 to 100,000 years)?

a) Earth's elliptical orbit

b) Earth's tilt

c) axial parallelism

d) solar output (1372 W/m2)

e) none of these are actually constant

none of these are actually constant

Temperature increases due to climate change are occurring most strongly in which part of the globe?

a) Tropics

b) Oceans

c) Arctic

d) Midlatitudes

e) Deserts

Arctic

In the short term, large volcanic eruptions can cause global warming. T/F

FALSE

On which time scales can changes in earth-sun relationships affect climate?

a) decadal (20-30 years)

b) seasonal (<1 year)

c) geologic (10,000-100,000 years)

d) diurnal (<1 day)

e) all of these

geologic (10,000-100,000 years)

Results from general circulation model simulations suggest that climate change is caused by a combination of anthropogenic (human) and natural factors. T/F

TRUE

Earth's Structure

Core, Mantle, Lithosphere, Crust

- congealed in nebula composed of dust, gas, and icy comets

- gravity sorted by density (core is heaviest so forth) which is known bc seismic shock waves

core distribution (mass/volume)

core - (1/6 volume, 1/3 mass)

inner core - most dense, solid iron

outer core - molten iron

magnetic field

the outer core is made of molten iron, producing a magnetic field that protects us from solar wind and cosmic radiation

lower/upper mantle composition

80% earth's volume

- probs contains lots of (crystalline) water

-contains hot spots ex. hawaii/volcano chains

hot spot

a volcanically active area of Earth's surface far from a tectonic plate boundary

lithosphere/crust

asthenosphere -> lithosphere (uppermost mantle+ crust -> crust ( oceanic 5km, continental 20-60km)

continental crust composition, texture, density differences

granite, crystalline, low density (2.7 g/cm 3 )

oceanic crust composition, texture, density differences

basalt, granular, high density (3.0 g/cm 3

Crust "floats" on denser layers belowCrust

radius of earth

6370km

how far have humans been able to drill?

12km over 20yr

geologic cycle

Crust is in a constant state of change

- Being formed by endogenic (internal) processes

- Worn down by exogenic (external) processes

common elements in earth's crust

oxygen 46.6%, silicon 27.7%, aluminum 8.1 %, iron5%, calcium3.6%, sodium2.8%, potassium2.6%, magnesium 2.1%

mineral

inorganic, non-living,natural compound§ has chemical formula & crystallinestructure Example = quartz (SiO2), pyrite (FeS 2)

rock

Rock: assemblage of minerals,mass of a single mineral, or solidorganic material§ Example = granite

THE ROCK CYCLE!

solidified (igneous)->sediment ->settled out (sedimentary rock/shale)-> altered (metamorphic) -> solidified -> .....

igneous

igneous (fire formed) — solidifies from cooling magma or lava

products of the crystallization of magma and lava

Intrusive- Slower cooling/ larger crystals

Extrusive - Faster cooling/ smaller crystals

Sedimentary

Sedimentary (sediments) — sediments wornfrom other rocks

Sediments are loose particles of former rocksranging from mineral grains to boulders

Acted upon by cementation, compaction, andhardening of sediments -> lithification

Metamorphic

Metamorphic (change form) — changing thechemistry, mineralogy, or texture of other rocks

Igneous or sedimentary rocks are transformed due to extreme pressure and heat, are physically and chemically different, harder & more resistant to erosion

Magma

molten rock beneath the surface (intrusive)

Lava

molten rock at the surface (extrusive)

Plate Tectonics

Changes in the configuration of theearth's crust due to internal forces ex. upwelling of magma, sea floor spreading/subduction, and plate movements

seafloor spreading

mechanism that drives plate movement through upwelling of magma along mid ocean ridges, creates ridges

dating the sea floor

As new crust is added, magnetic particles in the lava align themselves with the earth's magnetic field

- Provides a continuous record of the Earth's magnetic reversals

subduction

crust re-melts and is recycled as magma, creates deep trenches

Biosphere

Where atmosphere, lithosphere, & hydrosphere function together

- form the environment in which life exists

- Contains all plant and animal life

- Extends from sea-floor (−11ish km)to +8ish km above earth's surfaceBiosphere

Biogeography

Study of the distribution of plants and animals

- geographic relationships between organisms and their environments

- related to ecology, which is relationships of organisms and their environment

Survival of the fittest

all organisms are locked in a life death struggle for resources

- resources mean energy, growth, and reproduction

how many species went extinct on earth

99.9% of all species that ever existed on Earth

Producer

Plants - use CO 2 and light to form biomass

Consumers

ok eat

Primary consumers - herbivores (feed on producers)

Secondary consumers - carnivores/omnivores

Tertiary consumers - cooler carnivores/omnivores

decomposer

Break down organic matter - release nutrients

Food chain

~20 plant species provide 90% of world's foodR 3 plant species provide ~50%: wheat, maize, rice

Biomes

determined mainly by temperature and precipitation

Also: Solar radiation, Soil temperature, evaporation, wind, etc, and their seasonal distribution

warmest year since 1880

2024, 2023 is second warmest

top 25 warmest years

24 of those have been since 2001 (1998 was El Niño)

avg global temperature increase

increased by ~1.3C (2.3F) since 1880

Diurnal temperature range

decreased

Tmin (night) increases twice as fast as Tmax (day)

precipitation trend

+ 5-10% for 30-85°N since 1900

Sea level rise

+18.5 cm since 1900

Snow cover extent/duration

generally has decreased

spring melt and fall frost?

earlier spring melt, later fall frost = longer growing season

glaciers

retreating, tldr climate change

total sea level rise what ifs

all permafrost thaws: 3-10 cm (1-4 in)

all the (freshwater) sea ice would melt: 4 cm (1.5 in)

all of Greenland ice sheet melted: 6.5 m (21 ft)

all of Antarctic ice sheet melted: ~60 m (197 ft)

the entire cryosphere thawed/melted: 67 m (220 ft) Substantial areas of coastal plains would be flooded worldwide

causes of temperature change (natural)

natural mechanisms - solar output (solar constant is 1372 W/m^2)

- Earth/sun relationships (eccentricity/orbit, axial paralellism/precession, fixed tilt/obliquity

-movement of continents

- atmosphere/ocean variability

- volcanic activity

Causes of temperature change - human mechanisms

- land use/land cover change ex. urbanization/deforestation

- changing atmospheric chemistry ex. greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gas warming is 64% caused by what

CO2

General Circulation Models (GCMs)

numerical models that simulate Earth's circulation

-> physical processes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere

simulates past climate, cause and effect, future climate

Projected temperature change (GCM)

projected 1.4-4.4C increase by 2100

precipitation likely to increase/derease in some regions 10-30%

decrease in snow cover/sea ice thickness

extremes - frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, heavy precipitation -> tropical cyclones may become more intense

Polar and Highland Climates

no true summer,

even during 24hr daylight, T<10C(50F)

too cold for trees

extremely dry "frozen deserts"

tundra

summers barely above freezing

permafrost

ce cap

below freezing year- round

Greenland and ANTARTICA

Desert (Arid and Semiarid) Climates

most extensive climate region

- moisture demand (POTET)>supply (PRECIP)

- always a water deficit

caused by: subtropical highs, stabilizing ocean currents, rain shadow effects, great distance to water

What is the Hydrologic Cycle?

A continuous cycle of evaporation and precipitation that circulates water through the atmosphere, the earth, and water bodies

Does land experience more evaporation or precipitation?

More precipitation over land.

1 multiple choice option

Does the ocean experience more evaporation or precipitation?

More evaporation over ocean.

1 multiple choice option

What is advection in the hydrologic cycle?

Movement of water between the land and ocean

Does land or ocean globally experience the most evaporation AND precipitation?

Ocean experiences the most.

1 multiple choice option

How much evaporation and precipitation does the ocean experience?

78% precipitation and 86% evaporation

1 multiple choice option

How much evaporation and precipitation does land experience?

14% evapotranspiration and

22% precipitation

1 multiple choice option

What is ACTET

actual evapotranspiration

What is transpiration?

The loss of water from a plant

What is evapotranspiration?

The combined processes of evaporation and transpiration.

What is POTET?

Maximum amount of water that could potentially evaporate/transpire under optimum conditions. (demand)

What is PRECIP?

Water supplied via precipitation. (supply)

What is the input in water budget?

Precipitation

What are the expenditures in the water budget?

Evaporation from land and water, and transpiration from plants.

What is runoff?

Runoff is water that falls on a watershed that does not soak into the ground to become groundwater.

What is gravitational water?

water that trickles downward as a result of gravity.

What is wilting point?

When there is no water available for plants. (a.k.a hygroscopic H2O)

What is field capacity?

when the soil moisture is high enough that the water becomes too heavy and moves further into the earth away from the plants usage. (a.k.a gravitational H2O)

What is capillary H2O?

When the soil moisture is at the perfect level for plant usage.

When is there a surplus in the water budget?

When the PRECIP is greater than everything

When is there soil-moisture utilization in the water budget?

When the ACTET is greater than the PRECIP

When is there soil-moisture recharge in the water budget?

When the PRECIP is greater than the POTET